SHINNECOCK – Suffolk County Executive Steven Levy announced that he has commissioned a study highlighting the need for the federal government to be more equitable in its fishing quotas for New York State.

The fishing industry in Suffolk County has seen a decline recently due to tightening regulations imposed on New York State by the National Marine Fisheries Service – the federal government’s commission that controls the industry. Suffolk still contains the largest number of commercial fishermen in the state (1,138), but that number has been in a steady decline as fishery quotas for the state have also declined.

Economically, fishing is a multi-million dollar, multi-faceted industry that pumps millions of dollars into both the county and the state, and employs thousands. Tightening regulations, as the National Marine Fisheries Service has done via a continued lowering of fishery quotas for the state, will have disastrous effects on the local and state economies.

Many observers of the fishing industry agree that New York fishermen are not getting an equitable percentage of the coastal states’ total quota for certain species. To examine this more closely, Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency will both contribute $15,000 to fund a study through the town of East Hampton’s Fisheries Committee and Consultancy.

“Suffolk County is the leading commercial and recreational fishing locale in New York State,” Levy said. “With the largest number of commercial fishermen in the state, we have a significant stake in the fishing industry. We need to ensure that our heritage as a fishing force in the nation continues to thrive for years to come.”

“Through this study, we will provide the records that demonstrate what we have been saying for years – that Long Island has been denied its fair share of the catch,” said Legislator Jay Schneiderman. “The fact that our fisherman are only allowed to catch a fraction of what neighboring states are permitted is a long standing inequity that must be corrected.”

The study, to be conducted Eric Braun – the former National Marine Fisheries Service Port Agent for the East End – will assess the baseline data the National Marine Fisheries Service is using to establish landings quotas in the commercial fisheries. The intent is to collect, codify, analyze and assemble the updated landings information on four major species: summer flounder (fluke), scup, black sea bass and squid.

Once the study is completed, the findings will be introduced to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Attorney General’s Office.